I personally am beguiled

Thomas Cullinan took on a very interesting undertaking when he chose to write THE BEGUILED, especially considering the fact that there are 7 women in the story and only one man. As promised, the story is one of a beguiling nature and it is a challenge to figure out just who is the beguiler and who the beguiled. I decided to read this book because I saw the trailer for the movie version with Nicole Kidman. Since I really like Kidman, I was intrigued. Once I learned that it was a book first, I had to read the book before I see the movie!

I am disappointed to learn, though, that Sophia Coppola (the writer and director of the movie) has omitted one of the two sisters and the black housekeeper/cook, and she added a 6th girl to the school. (I had a difficult enough time keeping up with the girls, students, with only 5! How in the world will I manage with 6 girls?!) Granted, I do agree that all the characters in the story are not absolutely necessary to the story as a whole. I'm just not sure--before I see the movie--that I completely agree with Sophia's choices there. We'll have to see how I feel after I watch the movie....I do think that a story like this will transfer brilliantly to the screen. It practically begs to be SEEN rather than read.

I was pleasantly surprised to note that the book is not overtly sexual nor does it have much foul language. I don't need to read the specifics in order to understand that things of a sexual nature are taking place. As with clothing, it is more often than not better to leave a little to the imagination rather than reveal the whole package.

There really isn't anything in the story that happens that wasn't expected. It's an incredibly predictable. That didn't take away from my enjoyment of the read, though. Sometimes predictability can still be interesting, especially when it is such a beguiling story. ;) (Sorry, not sorry.) I highly recommend THE BEGUILED as a book.

I'll let you know about the movie after I see it.